Botanical Name:

Alseuosmia banksii

Common name(s):

Bank's Toropapa, Northern karapapa

About:

A spreading shrub found in forests of the North Island, from Cape Rodney northwards, as well as on Great and Little Barrier Islands. It has smaller leaves than other species, with variations in leaf shape and flower colour. A. quercifolia also exhibits variable foliage and is found from Taranaki to Hawke’s Bay northward. Growing to about 1m tall, it produces flowers ranging in colour from greenish-yellow to red.

Natural habitat:

Lowland and montane forests.

Growing environment:

Shade & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

North Island only from Te Paki to the near the northern margin of Auckland City.

Height: 1m

Flowering:

November – February with a free/yellow to red coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

February – April

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings & Forests.

How to grow:

Easy from cuttings but very hard to maintain once rooted. Seed is very difficult to germinate. Does best in a semi-shaded site but difficult to maintain.